My search for good holiday cookie recipes has taken me far and wide. I've flipped through my file folders, scanned indexes of cookbooks, searched the internet and called my mom, all in the pursuit of tasty cookie recipes. Today's recipe comes from the Woman's Day 1984 Holiday Baking supplement. My mom has had it tucked into her binder of recipes for the last 20+ years and read me a few recipes from it over the phone a couple of nights ago.
The one I chose to make today was originally called Honey Boys or Trees, but I've changed the name slightly because I used a variety of cookie cutters. The other thing I did to alter the recipe was to up the amounts of the spices slightly, as I was going for a more flavorful cookie. They turned out really well, with a texture that reminds me vaguely of shortbread. These cookies would be good if you're trying to avoid processed sugars but still want a holiday cookie that looks and acts like the traditional cut out cookies.
Honey Roll-Outs
2½ cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground allspice
½ cup butter
½ cup honey
Mix flour, soda, spices. Beat butter and honey with an electric mixer until it is pale and fluffy. Stir in dry ingredients until combined. Wrap in wax paper and chill. Roll out on floured surface to 1/8 in thick. Use cookie cutters and bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes until lightly golden.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-11-2007 @ 3:48PM
MJ said...
Another great one off the beaten path! simple but special.
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12-11-2007 @ 3:49PM
Marisa McClellan said...
Thanks MJ! I have to say, these cookies are quickly growing on me. They have such a nice balance of sweet and spice, I'm really glad I gave them a try!
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12-19-2007 @ 11:14PM
ryan said...
This dough seems really hard to roll out without crumbling, given that honey and butter are the sole wet ingredients. We were planning to use these for our kids to cut out, but I think we'll go with a traditional sugar cookie recipe.
That being said, the dough is delicious.....
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12-19-2007 @ 11:16PM
Marisa McClellan said...
Ryan, sorry to hear that they were so crumbly. I found that they weren't too bad to roll out as long as the dough had chilled for a little while and I used plenty of flour. I do hope you bake them up though, as they are really tasty.
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12-20-2007 @ 2:10PM
ryan said...
We persevered, rolled them out and baked them.
Our kids love them!
we still went with a more traditional dough for the toddlers, as their patience only lasts for so long when it comes to wanting to stamp the cookie dough.
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12-20-2007 @ 2:12PM
Marisa McClellan said...
Oh good, I'm glad to hear that they worked out and were loved. I think they are a really yummy cookie that taste a little like graham crackers. I'm planning on trying them with whole wheat pastry flour at some point in an attempt to up their healthy factor.
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